Fold hit by late blow

TWO goals in the last five minutes sealed a victory for second-placed Mitchells, but also gave a scoreline that certainly didn't reflect the balance of play.

A Fold side missing key, experienced players Doran, Shaw, Dearden, Lang and Ingham had battled back bravely to reduce the deficit to one goal and looked worthy of at least a share of the spoils.

However, missed chances at one end and costly mistakes at the other proved to be their downfall, but the team were obviously also lacking that little extra quality and stability that the absent quintet would have provided.

Another contributory factor to the result was the visitors

central midfielder Paul Strich, who was his team's playmaker and also notched a tidy hat-trick.

But the Elton players on duty couldn't be faulted for commitment as they started brightly enough and could well have been three goals up in the first quarter of an hour.

Steve Smith should have done better than shoot straight at 'keeper Corefield from ten yards out and the Fold striker was then only inches away from connecting with a deep cross that the custodian totally misjudged before it went just wide of the far post.

Minutes later Owen Coyle's shot on the turn from the edge of the box flashed past an upright, but, as in the previous week's game, Fold were caught cold as the opposition scored with their first real attack.

In the 22nd minute Butters breached the offside trap and raced into the box, only to be brought down by 'keeper Steve Crossley for an obvious penalty.

Fold breathed a sigh of relief as only a yellow card was produced, but Strich converted the spot-kick, despite Crossley getting a hand to it.

As far as Fold were concerned, there was a devastating start to the second half, which a majority of the spectators, still eating their pie and peas or reading their match programme, missed.

Elton won a corner within a minute of the kick-off and the flag kick led to a goalmouth melee that saw Dean Donohue's shot blocked on the line by a defender who had stayed on the post.

A long clearance followed, but casualness by Fold on the halfway line gifted the ball to Stott who sped away before sliding the ball past Crossley to leave the home side absolutely gutted. Heads never dropped though as Elton came storming back, but couldn't believe their misfortune when Smith's volley from the six-yard line hit Corefield in the chest before bouncing clear of goal.

But the pressure was rewarded in the 63rd minute when John Armstong's low cross from the left was sliced into his own net by the Mitchell's centre half.

It was now virtually one-way traffic towards the Mitchell's goal, but too often the final ball wasn't penetrating enough as the visitors defended in numbers right up to their own goal line, content to wait for a quick counter-attack.

It was from such a situation that they won a corner kick in the 85th minute that led to a goal that would have graced any standard.

Strich, who has developed a nasty habit of scoring spectacular goals against Fold, collected the short corner and made an angle for himself as he moved back up the touchline before sending a vicious, dipping shot into the far, top corner of the net.

Three minutes later it was definitely all over for Elton as another quick break down the left saw a cross floated over.

No-one backtracked with Strich as he made a run from deep and on arrival at the back post he was able to slide the ball just inside the upright to claim his hat-trick.

Although the squad wasn't quite strong enough against opponents of this quality to withstand the large number of absentees, Fold shouldn't be too downhearted as seven of the players on duty were aged 22 or under. ELTON FOLD: Crossley 7, Slater 6, Greenhalgh 6, Wilkes 6, Lomax 6, Price 7, Proudfoot 6, Donohue 7, Armstrong 7, Coyle 6, Smith 7 Subs: Rayner 6, Green 6, Wild (not used).

A solitary strike from David Aspinall in the fourth minute of stoppage time gave the Reserves a welcome 1-0 win at Mitchells Reserves.

Fold are without a fixture tomorrow, whilst the Reserves are at home to Hollinwood Reserves (kick-off 2.30pm).

There is a change of main speaker at Fold's latest Sportsman's Evening at Elton Cricket Club, Leigh Lane, Bury on Friday 30th March, commencing 7.30pm.

The original speaker Alan Stevenson is taking up a coaching job in the USA and will therefore be unavailable. The new speaker is former Leeds United and Scotland winger Peter Lorimer and the comedy is provided by Gary

George.

Tickets priced £10 are available from Stuart Robb on 01204-887565 or John Nuttall on 0161-764-1642.